Certification
Related Resources
Credentials for the Infant/Toddler Child Care Workforce is a technical assistance tool for Child Care and Development Fund Administrators.
Personnel Certification and Specialized Service Providers for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a report regarding certification or endorsements for personnel working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder1 (ASD) and how states provide services for children diagnosed with ASD.
MSDE Division of Certification and Accreditation certifies teachers and other professional personnel. The division oversees the preparation and assessment of candidates for principalship and approves the educational programs of nonpublic schools.
The National Center for Special Education Personnel and Related Service Providers provides information about career choices, development, and preparation and practice. Search the Personnel Preparation Programs database by state, degree, area of specialty, or position to find community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, school districts, or regional resource centers that will prepare you to work with infants, young children and youth with disabilities, and their families. You can also search directly for OSEP funded programs.
Maryland Programs
Click here for a direct link to a list of all relevant programs in Maryland.
Suitable Qualifications
The quality of staff is the single most important determinant of the quality of an early intervention program. The foundation for building a quality program begins with employing or contracting with personnel who meet the highest entry-level requirements and suitable qualifications for their discipline.
In Maryland, suitable qualifications for personnel providing early intervention services in excess of 15 percent of employment hours, means a minimum of 120 contact hours in the following competency areas:
(a) Infant and toddler development (typical and atypical);
(b) Infant and toddler assessment (instruments and procedures);
(c) Family assessment (identification of strengths/needs);
(d) Family systems issues;
(e) Early intervention service options and strategies;
(f) Team process; and
(g) Service coordination.
COMAR Regulations
State Board of Examiners
Additional Resources
Keys to High-Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Published by the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO TO THREE in 2010, this factsheet describes common elements found in the core knowledge and competencies (CKC) for early care and education professionals in 36 States, including special considerations for children with special needs and cultural diversity. It is available online at
